The door slammed shut across the hall for the tenth time today. Ava groaned into her pillow, but it didn’t drown the insufferable noise one bit. Whose bright idea was it to install swinging doors? She appreciated the sliders more after this.

All morning long, the twins caused a ruckus. Their shoes shuffled across the floorboards, while they talked up a storm, up and down the hallways. And then Gio woke up, and things just got louder.

Ava knew she could easily go out there and tell them to pipe down, but she didn’t want to face them—mainly Mika. God, she was so embarrassed. If she’d known they’d wake up this quickly, then she never would’ve worried about them. She never would’ve helped Mika. That’s it. I’m never leaving this room.

Ava’s phone trilled, notifying her of a text. Refusing to move off the pillow, she blindly searched for the phone on the nightstand in the dark, then swiped it open.

Josh: Lazy bum. Get up and suit up. We’re training in T-Minus 15 min.

Great. Groaning, she rolled out of bed, grabbed her uniform out of the duffle bag, and went to the bathroom. The stark lighting completely exposed the dark bags under her eyes and the bird’s nest on her head. Basically, she looked awful. She should take a shower, but there was no time.

After washing her face in the sink, she pulled on the uniform. The jacket fit like a glove, sculpting over her body with every slight curve and muscle of her arms. It frayed at the cuffs and stretched thin from over-stitching. From the way the pants fit, she’d need to replace them soon.

Self-stitching was one of the many perks to this uniform. Since their bodies healed on their own after they transitioned, the UFE invented a material that could stitch itself up. So far it worked like a charm, protecting their skin as they continued fighting in battle. But lately, the material was getting cheaper, thinner. She just got this uniform last year and it was already worn down.

Ava was envious as a child. They couldn't wear these uniforms until after they transitioned, so when she did, Gregori personally wrapped the uniform. He placed it inside a blue box with a giant blue ribbon tying it closed—the ribbon looked like another gift. It was so beautiful, she didn't want to open it until Junipea said, you think that ribbon is pretty, wait until you see what's inside.

Those were the last good memories Ava had of Junipea before he died a few weeks later. Now she cursed the UFE uniform every time she looked at it.

After brushing out the tangles, Ava tied her hair into a bun and then froze. The plaster was gone. Her tattoo was completely exposed. When was it removed? Ava swore she put one on after her shower yesterday.

Wait, what’s going on? It looks different. She leaned closer to the mirror, sat on the marble counter to get a clear image. It wasn’t working. So she frantically searched through the bathroom drawers and the closet—nothing. No handheld mirror anywhere. Wait, what about my room?

The second she left, she found a decorative mirror, of branches and leaves, hanging next to the closet. She pulled it off the wall and went back inside the bathroom. Her hands trembled, disrupting the image of her tattoo, yet it was clear enough. A tiny jagged line cracked through the center of the black seal. The curse mark was breaking open.

Shit. Okay, no need to freak out. Ava could fix this. It was only a small crack—about the size of her nail. As long as the curse mark was removed or replaced by the caster, it wouldn't kill her. She’d be fine. She just had to tell Marc and he’d fix it.

She paused. Her phone sat on her palm, thumb hovering over the call button. Maybe she should wait. It’d help with breaking into the laboratory, and a little boost of energy never harmed anyone. The crack was so thin, if she were careful, it might take more than a week to crack further.

After a few more times of going back and forth, she stuck the plaster over the curse mark, then quickly put on her running boots. They self-tightened to her legs, fitting comfortably on her calves, unlike the grip around her lungs.

Ava took a deep breath. Breathe in… Breathe out…

Her watch went off. Just five more minutes.

Now she was on a time crunch. After her last failed attempt at breaking into the laboratory, it was obvious she needed extra help. She just needed to suck in her pride, which was the hardest thing. It was all she had left.

▽ ▽ ▽

Josh paced back and forth, meeting each of their eyes. His hands were tucked behind his black winter coat, commanding their attention with his fiery red-orange mohawk. The wind flapped the tail ends of his coat each time he turned on the heels of his combat boots as if he were the commander and they were his soldiers.

Silence stretched along the Coliseum, surrounded by walls upon walls of brick archways and stones for seats. Pillars towered on all four sides with sculpted winged gladiators holding their swords and shields towards the afternoon stars. Below was an iron gate standing tall as any thriving tree in the forest, and fresh vines wrapped around the bars like their own personal chain to keep the demons locked out.

Josh summoned his double-headed ax to his palm. His muscle tightened on his forearm, but he paid little attention to the hefty weapon as he swung it onto his broad shoulders. The afternoon sun glared off the black blades and on the arena. Ava absently kicked a stone. This place was just as decrypted the last time she fought here.

“Welcome to the Coliseum where only the best get to fight. Where many come to prove themselves for a chance at the top ranks. And many die trying,” Josh said. “This is where I became your handsome, fearless Lieutenant—”

“And where Ava earned her rank as General,” Gio said. “She fought five days straight before the last opponent collapsed.”

The fight for the title General had nothing to do with skills and everything to do with smarts. They could have the strongest ability and be the most deviant of them all. But if they couldn't conserve their energy and know when to use their abilities, then they’d never make it to the end. The General had to be the last one standing—to protect the people and the Commander at all costs—even when they were the last soldier alive.

Josh smacked Gio upside the head before continuing. “Today, you’re fighting in pairs. Siblings versus siblings.”

Gio grumbled, and re-tied the bun on top of his head. He gave Ava a crooked smile. “This should be fun.”

“Shouldn’t we be practicing to take down Junipea?” Sam interjected. He was on Gio’s other side, with Mika at the end of this lineup. Compared to this morning, the twins had been quiet until now. Suspicious.

Josh stopped in front of Sam. His herculean-build towered over him, forcing Sam to look up. The twins grew taller since they transitioned, taller than Ava, but they were still a head shorter than Gio which didn’t surprise her. Gio is like a tree.

“Why do you think we’re out here?” Josh remarked. “Ava and Gio know how Junipea fights. If you ever expect to take him down, then start by taking them down first.”

“That’s if we’re fighting Junipea,” Marc added.

He stood close to the east iron gate. Darious was by his side, looking like his normal self and not god-like at all. Except for the visible distance between them, the tension was worse than before. Ava felt it all the way over here. Darious kept his eyes trained on the tablet in his hands and only spoke loud enough for Marc to hear. Whatever he said had Marc striding towards them, quickly, with an annoyed expression.

He pushed the red wine specs far up his nose. “Based on Ava’s report, we’ve determined this is an impostor,” Marc said. “Regardless, use today as an exercise. Find each other’s strengths and weaknesses. So when this fake Junipea strikes again, you’re prepared to fight like a real team this time.”

“So basically you just want us to find out who’s stronger?” Gio asked, cracking his knuckles. “I have no problems with that.”

Ava rolled her eyes at his cockiness and took his arm. “All right, then let’s get started.”

“Remember this is just a training exercise,” Marc said.

He may be right, but they weren’t holding back. Gio was just as eager as Ava to test the twins real strength. To see what made an Ama prince so special.

Gio fell into step with her as they walked towards the arena’s center and its deep-rooted scar. It was so vivid, cut into the stone seating like Zeus struck the world.

Five years ago, Ava fought on this very field, yet felt like it was yesterday. She could still smell the sweat and taste of dirt and iron—sticking to her skin. Heard the crowd roar in cheers and scattered fireworks. Felt the adrenaline rushing through her veins after she finished her fight, and how the rocks dug into her knee as she knelt in front of Gregori.

Ava didn’t just become General, she earned a name. And that scar Gregori made was a reminder of what he said that day, Every General needs a last name, and so I will give you mine. From this day onward, your name will be Avalyn Concerto—do not disappoint me.

For the past five years, Ava lived up to the Concerto name. Gregori said nothing about her losing control, yet she could tell hope dimmed in his eyes. Maybe she wasn’t the cause of it, but it didn’t matter. She was disappointed in herself. If there was a way to erase the scar on her name, she’d do it. Teaming up with these brats better be worth it.

When Gio and Ava reached the center, the twins stood a few feet away. Rocks and various sized boulders scattered across the terrain as obstacles to this fight. This was the first time she took a good look at them, and it didn’t please her one bit.

Like the day they arrived, they were identical when wearing the UFE’s military uniform. They styled their wavy hair back the same way, and the black material only accentuated the subtle muscles of their arms and legs. They were attractive enough for her elusive brother. Gio racked his eyes down their clothes.

Ava smacked him on the arm and hissed, “Stop checking out the enemy.”

With a smirk, Gio shushed her and nodded in their direction. The twins' voices were just as loud as this morning as they conversed. But of course, they were speaking in the Ama tongue, believing Ava and Gio couldn’t understand them. They forgot Marc trained them for ten years, and he taught them more than just combat.

“We need to get them separated somehow,” Sam said. “We might have a fighting chance if we can flank them one at a time.”

Mika caught Ava’s gaze and kept them trained on her. “She thinks we’re weak when we don’t fight together,” he said. “I will prove her wrong.”

Sam clucked his tongue. “Don’t be stupid. It will take us both to stop her. You heard Gio. She lasted five days fighting in this arena.”

“That's before she lost control.” Mika unsheathed both blades from his back. “Now she’s weak. Her energy level is low. And I think she’s afraid of me.”

Ava scoffed. “Forget what Marc said. I’m going to teach this brat a lesson.”

Josh called them over and met in the center to shake hands. Mika’s grip tightened around Ava’s and she gripped right back in challenge. No words were exchanged, but they were ready for each other.

While backing away, Josh stared each of them down one last time. “The rules are simple: Stay within the arena’s boundaries and… try not to kill yourselves.”

He blew the whistle.

No one moved. No one made a sound. The cold wind hissed through the cracks in the walls like a conductor tapping on their podium before a song, and their weapons were the instruments. Seagulls flapped over the Coliseum, their shadows danced across the dirt floor. Baby hair tickled the back of Ava’s neck, reminding her of the curse mark. She flexed the muscles in her upper arm—her healed upper arm. Let's do this.

In the blink of an eye, the twins disappeared.

Her sixth sense searched the area, but it was useless. She still couldn’t track them. After taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and tried using her nature ability, instead. A small amount of energy seeped out of the curse mark, exactly what she needed.

The ground felt rough, solid under her weight; a mass of rocks and crust and mantle moved ever so slightly. The wind tangled through her fingers and ears and body parts until the moisture collected all around her shifted.

“Above,” she told Gio and swung the Bō behind.

Ava clashed with Mika’s two blades, knocking him back. Gio blocked Sam’s attack with his scimitar, sending a shock wave through the dirt. A stilled silence fell over them and fueled Ava to attack. She took off and ran straight for Mika.

Clenching his teeth, Mika hopped up and moved his fingers through the air, trying to conjure a koto trick. Nice try. She threw a stray rock and knocked his hands out of sync.

She twirled the Bō around and aimed for his neck. Mika blocked each attack with difficulty. Sweat ran into his grip, one blade slipped from his hand. He ducked her next attack and swung the second blade towards her chest. On instinct, she fell back, feeling the tip as it passed by.

Ava reached into her waist pouch and threw two daggers at him. He used the blade to block the knives. She maneuvered around him and slammed his back against the Bō.

Mika hit the ground face first. He coughed and moaned, rubbed dirt and blood off his chin. She swung the Bō and stabbed at his neck while he was down. But he rolled off to the side and disappeared, leaving the Bō deep in the empty dirt. He’s fast, but he won’t last if he keeps wasting his energy like this.

Mika appeared to Ava’s left, looking confident as ever. He picked up a boulder three times her size. Tiny rocks fell over the edges, knocking into his hair. With a smirk, he thrusted it at her. It flew across the arena, singing like a cannonball.

She broke the Bō in half and shifted it into two blades. The wind reached before the boulder hit, snapped her ponytail back. In four strokes, she sliced it down, each one harder than the last. She was unstoppable. The boulder split apart. Pieces flew on either side of Ava under a wind of dusty camouflage.

Water doused her out of nowhere with no Mika in sight. It smelled of rain and earth and stuck to her like gel. Her hair prickled across her skin. This familiar feeling. She looked up. Mika came out of the dust, his hand seared with electricity, just like Gio and his ability. He grabbed for her head. Shit. I won’t dodge him in time.

Her chest suddenly warmed, tickled, as a faint blue light enveloped her. Mika hit it. The electricity on his hand snapped and dulled and stuck like glue to this barrier type of magic. He jumped back and did not rebuttal. Confused, his gaze searched Ava between the raining rocks and dust as if he were trying to figure out what just happened.

Marc’s necklace. Ava got so used to wearing it, she forgot the whole purpose behind it was to protect her from koto spells. Apparently, water wasn’t harmful, although she begged to differ. This was pretty useful.

A dark spot moved out of the corner of her eye. She barely caught Sam and his Katana. Their blades clashed. Intense vibrations ran down her arms, down her waist, down to the bottom of her boots. Her muscles threatened to turn into jelly as the world rang all around her. Ava stabbed her blades into the dirt and used them to anchor upright. Blood dribbled from her mouth. She spit a wad out, wiping away the rest on the back of her glove.

The fucker hit me with super strength. But that wasn’t his full force, she knew from experience with Marc. She’d be passed out on the ground, or worse dead like a squashed cockroach. This fight just got dangerous.

Sam attacked from the front, his blade reaching for the sunny sky. Crap. Ava couldn’t move. her legs weren’t responding as quickly as they were before. She yanked a blade out and prepared for an ultimate defeat.

Gio popped up from the side, electricity engulfed his curved blade and entire arm, seared like a hissing snake. Their swords clashed, blasting a shock wave through them. Ava’s hair stood on end.

They held their ground. Gio against Sam against Ava. Holy hell. Gio figured out a way to cancel out Sam’s super strength. His eyes sharpened in response. Gio took a step back as did Ava. He held off Sam this time, but how long would that last?

“I told you she is mine!”

Mika slammed his fist into the ground. Large cracks of Earth broke the surface like glass, shaking the crust beneath Ava’s shoes and up her body. It stopped Sam. It stopped Gio. But it drove Ava to run. After Sam’s attack, she couldn’t let Mika hit her blades when his super strength was this pent up.

He appeared in front of her and sliced through the air. She ducked his two blades and cut into the boulder behind. Chunks slammed onto the ground, echoed across the arena. Her body trembled under its quakes.

While backing up, she tripped over a rock. Mika stood above, both blades raised to the side. Ava shifted her two blades into a double-headed spear and blocked his attack. There was no pain. There was no movement. Only the soft whisper of a dying wind and a cheeky smile on Mika’s dusty face. He thought he’d won. He should’ve used his super strength.

Ava kicked him back, then spun the spear, slicing towards his legs. It cut his pants, making him yelp. The curse words were minuscule to his burning glare. But he waited for her to hop back up, and when she did, the tension shifted and so did his stance.

She attacked first. Her spear clashed with Mika’s swords, forcing her back. After that last blow, he was weaker in strength. She knocked his blades off and stabbed at his front. His head tipped side to side, dodging the spear by the last possible seconds. He spun around, graceful in his movements.

The edge of his blades pushed against her spear. They spared—Mika's movements were poetic compared to Ava’s rough impacts. There was another shift and a playfulness in his strikes. He stopped using his abilities as she focused more on his technique. It was flawless and precise like a true Ama prince.

Ava twirled, striking his blades each time. Their steps fell into sync. He moved with fluid motions, meeting her spear each time with ease, and each time she held his gaze, keeping his sword away from her heart. They were dancing.

“I’m sorry for hurting your arm,” Mika said when their weapons touched.

Was he seriously apologizing at a time like this? We’re in the middle of a fight!

Her spear shifted into a simple sword. When their weapons met this time, the metal rang like the climactic ending to an orchestrated song. They held their stance. They’ve never been this close before. The heat of his body swarmed her in its own personal attack.

“I should have let you go,” he whispered as if he were telling a secret.

His gaze was so penetrating beneath his long eyelashes, Ava looked away. Against her better judgment, she responded. “It’s not your fault. I should have left you alone.”

“I’m glad you didn’t.”

Her heart sped when she met his eyes. Last night came back to her: his hurt expression and the fear, and how hidden beneath those devilish eyes were colorful starbursts of blues, reds, and flecks of gold—a gift from the universe.

Mika’s body relaxed, enough to give Ava the upper hand. She broke off from him and swung her leg around. When he fell, she pounced. Her knee pressed into his chest. Her spear was at his neck. Checkmate.

Or so she thought. A small knife poked her in the rib every time she took a shallow breath. If Mika punctured her lung, he’d gain the upper hand, while she floundered like a fish until the wound healed. So then she lost.

No, she wouldn’t accept that. This is a tie.

Ava morphed the spear back into its original Bō form, and used it to hold herself up. Sweat dripped off her chin and onto his uniform. “Where did you get that knife?”

Mika retracted the knife and carefully slid it back inside Ava’s waist pouch with the other small daggers. “My grandfather always told me I have sticky fingers. But I never thought it would be useful in a fight.”

He couldn’t be serious. He wasn’t just a klutz, but a pickpocket too. Diabolical. Ava laughed and laughed, trying to wrap her head around this—around him. She couldn’t remember the last time she laughed this much, or had this much fun. Her cheeks hurt.

After standing back up, she held out her hand. He blinked and hesitated like he wasn’t sure if he should trust her or not. “Truce?” she asked.

He gave her a smile that was too cute for his own good, then took her hand. “Truce,” he said, hopping up. “Oh—I should probably give this back to you as well.”

Mika slipped another dagger from his sleeve and flipped it over, handle first, like Darious did with her arrow. A genuine smile crossed her face. Only a true magician would have a trick up his sleeve.

Ava took it from his fingers and pulled him close. His warmth instantly surrounded her in a layer of dust off his hair. Maybe using these brats isn’t such a bad idea, afterall.

“You still want to help me find my birth record?” she said. “Meet me in Gio’s room after dinner tonight.”